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====Stalin leads the fightback====However, within weeks Stalin manage to recover from the shock and called for reinforcements. Although German troops had made huge advances into the heartlands of the Soviet Union and the rest of the government had been evacuated from Moscow, Stalin remained in the Kremlin and begun to take control of the country’s ailing military infrastructure. As German troops approached the Soviet capital of Moscow, Stalin directed a devastating defensive policy, destroying any supplies or infrastructure that might benefit the enemy. Fresh competent USSR military commanders loyal to Stalin were allowed to take control of important strategic positions and military divisions. <ref>Bellamy, p. 117</ref> This scorched earth tactic was to deny denied the Germans key supplies. This was particularly the case as the German supply lines had become extended and the men at the front did not receive the supplies that they needed. The policy of destroying the infrastructure and anything else that could be utilized by the Germans caused immense suffering on to the Soviet civilian population, however. However, it dramatically slowed down the German advance. Stalin's policy contributed to the failure of the German army to take Moscow in the early winter of 1941.<ref>Bellamy, p.112</ref>

After some weeks of inactivity, the Supreme Soviet leader personally took control of the situation. Stalin dominated the army and he had placed men in key positions not based upon their ability but based on their personal allegiance to him. The supreme Soviet leader was very afraid that if he gave too much independence to the army, that the Generals would remove him from power. After the invasion of the Soviet and the poor leadership shown by many Generals, he adopted a new policy he promoted men of ability to positions of authority in the armed forces, such as Zhukov. This greatly improved the leadership of the Red Army and allowed it to be more effective against the Nazi German armies. Stalin also reorganized the Soviet Army's High Command. He established the Stavka, this provided the Red Army with the leadership it needed in the life or death struggle with the Germans. Stalin supervised Stavka closely, but he also gave his Generals more authority.<ref>"Stalin's Role in WWII" - http://yesterday.uktv.co.uk/warzone/article/stalins-role-wwii/</ref>

As the German invasion of Russia progressed. Stalin contacted Western diplomats requesting two agreements. He aimed at reaching a mutual assistance/aid pact and a recognition that after the war the Soviet Union would gain the territories in countries that it would take war actions against Hitler on the Eastern front. [[How did Winston Churchill become Prime Minister of the United Kingdom in World War Two?|Winston Churchill]] was very willing to have an alliance with Stalin. Even though He was an ardent anti-communist and he personally disliked Stalin. He agreed to support the Soviets in their battle with the Germans. Churchill pithy states when When criticized for allying Britain aligning with the Soviets 'I Stalin, Churchill stated he "would become the devils' " ally if Hitler invaded Hell'. " Stalin's diplomatic moves in the aftermath of Operation Barbarossa was shrewd. It allowed him to receive the support of first the British and later the Americans.<ref> Belamy, p. 34</ref> the The British began to supply the Soviets with arms and other supplies, via Iran and the AntarticAntarctic. Stalin's diplomatic response to the invasion of his country was to become the ally of his ideological rivals, the western democracies.<ref>Stalin's Role in WWII - http://yesterday.uktv.co.uk/warzone/article/stalins-role-wwii/</ref>

Stalin made a potentially fatal mistake in trusting Hitler and when the German's invaded he seemed to have been in a state of shock. This meant that his response to the invasion was slow and this allowed the Germans to make great inroads into his country until the Communists seemed on the verge of defeat. Stalin soon took charge and adopted new tactics. Crucially he reorganized the army, raised its morale and entered into a new alliance with the west. These decisions proved crucial and delayed, and eventually stopped the German advance and in the long run, Stalin was able to defeat the Nazi German army.